Coronavirus Update And Resources For Carlsbad Unified Families

From the Carlsbad Unified School District:

February 26, 2020

Carlsbad Unified families and staff,

We are continuing to closely monitor the coronavirus (now named COVID-19) situation.

As of Feb. 21, County health officials report there are only two known cases of coronavirus in San Diego County. Both individuals were on repatriation flights (2/5/20 and 2/7/20) from Wuhan, China and are under federal quarantine at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

You may be aware that the disease has spread to other countries and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new travel warnings with increased concern for South Korea, Japan, and Italy. Travel warnings for China have not changed, and the CDC has lowered their level of concern for travel to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Additional details about these warnings can be found on the CDC website.

As the CDC emphasized, there is not currently a coronavirus pandemic in the United States. A pandemic occurs when a disease is spreading from a variety of sources across a large region, and the number of cases across the US is still small. However, given how quickly the global situation is evolving, we are monitoring new developments and will continue to reevaluate our steps and actions in coordination with the Carlsbad Department of Emergency Management, the San Diego County Office of Education, the County of San Diego Department of Health and Human Services, the California Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control, and others.

Current information about the coronavirus is available on the County of San Diego/Health and Human Services website and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website.

As a reminder, if your child is sick, please keep them home from school. To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus and flu, follow these important tips:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Additionally, the California Department of Public Health does not recommend the use of face masks for general prevention and says that handwashing provides better protection from infectious diseases.

Carlsbad Unified School District will continue to provide updates to families and staff as necessary. We thank you for your cooperation and support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ben Churchill

Superintendent

This press release was produced by the Carlsbad Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.